Spencer Newell stopped by to discuss his inspirations, his journey to sobriety, and advice for navigating personal struggles while pursuing a career in the music industry.
Rising artist Spencer Newell is quietly shaping the trance music landscape, one project at a time. His dynamic productions and hypnotic melodies are as emotive as they are expansive, effortlessly pulling listeners into his world. Behind the decks, Spencer is a true multi-hyphenate. Besides being an author, he is also a writer, a personal trainer, and an endurance athletics coach. His diverse talents and life experiences shine through in everything he does, and when it comes to music, it’s clear that Spencer Newell is an artist to watch.
Boosted by the support of industry heavyweights like Sarah De Warren, Sue McLaren, Andrew Rayel, Andy Moor, Aly & Fila, and more, Spencer Newell has also released a range of singles and collaborations on many esteemed labels. AVA Recordings, Find Your Harmony, Black Hole Recordings, and Degenerate are just some of the homes of his music as he continues to solidify his growing presence in the global trance community.
In addition, Spencer’s journey is about far more than just making music; he’s creating moments of connection. Beyond his artistry, he is a huge advocate for sobriety, and he openly shares about his harrowing and deeply personal experiences with drugs and alcohol. In 2018, he published his memoir Appetite for Addiction, which chronicles his path through addiction and recovery. Drawing from the richness of these life experiences, he finds his voice in music. The emotional depth of his productions reflects the care and precision with which he transforms his personal stories into immersive soundscapes.
Spencer’s latest single, “Focus One,” opens with atmospheric layers and airy synths, creating a deep sense of anticipation. The track is a well-crafted trance song that balances moments of suspension with driving basslines and culminates in a euphoric release. As he prepares for a b2b performance with Alan Fullmer at Amsterdam Dance Event, we caught up with the up-and-coming artist to chat about his evolving career, his journey with sobriety, and what’s next.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 478 || Spencer Newell on SoundCloud:
Hey Spencer, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. Let’s kick this interview off by diving into your roots. I’d love to hear about some of the artists who influenced you early on in your life, and what drove your passion for dance music.
Underworld really opened my ears to the electronic genres. After hearing Born Slippy, I was hooked. Prodigy and Chemical Brothers followed early on, then I heard Ayla in the late 90s, and things took off from there. The first trance show I went to in 2007, Armin at Pacha NYC, helped light the spark that led me to start thinking about producing. It took me another 13 years to download Ableton, and the rest is history.
How would you describe your signature sound, and how has it evolved over the years?
Over the last few years, I’ve leaned into the uplifting trance side of things. It’s evolved to include tech trance and straight techno elements to create a unique and raw sound
Your collaborations with vocalists and the support you’ve received from DJs like Andrew Rayel, Aly & Fila, and Somna have been significant. How have these experiences influenced your approach to producing? And what does it feel like hearing your tracks come alive in other DJs’ sets around the world?
Hearing my music being performed around the world is just surreal. I used to imagine what it would be like to have some of my favorite DJs include my music in their sets. Now I don’t have to imagine! Also, having those artists support my music early on in my career really fueled my desire to keep learning and to further craft my sound.
You’ve come such a long way on your personal journey. Back in 2018, you published your memoir, sharing in detail the events that led you to choose sobriety, which was such a brave thing to do. You’ve also mentioned that music played a role in your journey, even before you thought about producing or DJing. Can you tell us a bit about some of those early musical experiences and how they influenced you?
At first, my love affair with trance music was largely fueled by substances and pure energy. After I chose sobriety, I realized that without the drugs and alcohol, I actually found out that I enjoyed the music even more. For several years, after getting sober, I launched into a long-distance running career and always had an Armin, Gareth, or Markus set playing in my headphones. After listening to that music for endless hours while running, I finally realized that I would like to make my own music. The rest of this is history!
Were there specific songs, albums, or artists that resonated with you during those early years and helped you navigate challenges?
Paul Oakenfold’s tranceport, along with Underworld’s Everything Everything, were hugely influential in this regard. During challenging life circumstances, I would put both of those albums on repeat and practice my “air dj’ing” in my bedroom just to “feel” something else than what I was feeling.
What advice would you give to others who are navigating personal challenges while pursuing their passion for music?
Let the music take you somewhere where you feel safe and comforted. Sink into the rhythm of the beat, lose yourself in it. Let it take you to a place where you feel love and inspiration. And always know that whatever challenges you’re going through, someone else has probably experienced that. Know that you are not alone. And know that reaching out to other people who have had the same challenges helps you to move through said challenge.
Coming up, you’re set to go B2B with Alan Fullmer at Amsterdam Dance Event, how exciting is that! How do you prepare for high-profile events like ADE to make sure the crowd stays fully engaged and energized?
To play new and fresh uplifting tunes and bring the energy to the DJ Booth!
Lastly, when fans listen to your music and hear your story, what do you hope they take away from it?
That anyone is capable of chasing down their dreams, no matter their age or experience. Just put all of your heart into whatever it is you’re doing, and the universe will conspire to help make that a career for you.
